BEIJING, Jan 15 (Reuters) - China drew $92.4 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2008, 23.6 percent more than in 2007, Commerce Ministry spokesman Yao Jian told a news conference on Thursday.
In December alone, FDI inflows were about $6 billion, based on the fact that the cumulative total in the first 11 months was $86.4 billion.
China attracted $74.77 billion in non-financial FDI in 2007, an increase of 13.6 percent from 2006.
Inflows have surged since the country joined the World Trade Organisation in late 2001 but the trend has been softening in recent months due to the global economic crisis.
China's foreign direct investment~ (in $ billion): ________________________2008______________________________ Dec Nov Oct Sep Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan 6.0 5.3 6.7 6.6 7.0 8.3 9.6 7.8 7.6 9.3 6.9 11.2
~ FDI excluding investments in the financial sector. Some of the monthly figures are calculated based on cumulative data. (Reporting by Langi Chiang; Editing by Alan Wheatley)